The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-02-10

OF the settlement Of the scioto Valley by laying
out on his own land whnt y now the city Of Chill
licothe. ChilMcothe was IN important settle
ment from the beginning, and it is Of Its early
history that this sketch will treat. In 1871 Mus.
sic made o settlement at Manchester, in Adams
County, but 1t did not thrive, and he made use
of the station there as a base Of supplies and
for point Of rally and departure, ns he was en-
gagged in surveying the Virginia military lands
in the Scioto Valley, given by Congress to SOL
diers Of the Old Dominion.
Chillicothe was settled by colonists from the
South. The, pioneer of the Scioto Valley, the
man who sdid the most to explore develop and
settle IL, was Nathaniel Massie, native Of
Goochland County, Virginia, born in 1783
Colonel Massies father was farmer in easy
circumstances, who educated his sons for the
practical work Of life. At the age of seventeen
young Massie was soldier in the Continental
army. After his return from the service, like
so many Of the pioneers Of Ohio, he became q
surveyor and in 1883 set out to seek his fortunes
in Kentucky. He wns by nature fitted for the
dangerous and difficult work Of an explorer
and surveyor on the frontier, and he soon &C.
quired oil of the skill and craft Of the woods.
He was . thorough woodsman, and could en-
dure all sorts of exposure and hardships, fire.
Quently living for long periods upon either
bread or meat alone, and preserving all the
while the utmost cheerfulness Of disposition.
He was blessed with an uncommon quality and
quantity Of cool courage, TO which was added
excellent judgment and forethought. The re-
sult Of his having these qualities of mind and
character was that he became o reliable and
potent leader or mon. sg. .lr--ag- fH r,l
For q time Massie embarked in the salt-mak.
ing business which was then much moro
profitable and important industry that 1t now
is He was occasionally employed, however, in
the ONCE Of Colonel R. g. Anderson, the chief
surveyor Of the Virginia military lands.
large number Of land warrants were placed in
Nassie's hands to enter and survey upon such
terms as he could get from the owners of them.
The risk of making land entries and surveys
was very great, as the Soioto country was in
tested with hostile Indians, 20 the surveyors
were able to make liberal terms with the own
ers Of the land One-third, one-fourth, and we
aro told that one-hslf of the good land acquired
by the work Of the surveyors was given them
for their services. II the owners preferred to
pay cash for the work Of having their lands en-
tered and located, the usual charge was ten
pounds, Virginia currency, for every thousand
acres entered and surveyed, plus some expenses.
The location Of land warrants in the Virginia
Military District between the Scioto and the
Little Miami, prior to 17oot says Mcdonald in
his rare and interesting slsstches, was made by
stealth. Every creek that wAs explored, every
line that was run, was at ne risk Of life from
the savage indians, whose courage and perse.
verance was only eQualed BY the perseverance
of the whites to push forward their settle.
ments. ...- tlt
In the fall Of r7ss Massie decided to undertake
. surveying tout on the Scioto river, though he
well knew that tho time he had selected was
particularly dangerous period. But little he
cared for the danger. 90 with no ear for remon-
STRANGE he fitted out hia expedition. His party
consisted Of thirty men, three OF whom besides
John Beasley, Nathaniel Beasley and Peter
Lee. It was IN this expedition that Duncan
Macarthur, destined 70 become Governor OF
the State Of Ohio, was employed - chain